Combined heating and massaging device



s. L. M NAIR 3,467,080

COMBINED HEATING AND MASSAGING DEVICE Sept. 16, 1969 Filed Aug. 1, 1966I N VENTOR fiamue/ L. M A/afr United States Patent 3,467,080 COMBINEDHEATING AND MASSAGING DEVICE Samuel L. McNair, Overland Park, Kans.,assignor to The Songrand Corporation, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation ofMissouri Filed Aug. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 569,419 Int. Ci. A61b 21/00 U.S.C]. 128-242 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A heat generatingelectromagnet is supported for vibration on the free end of a leafspring and means are provided for conducting heat from the electromagnetto a heat conductive applicator surface which is also subject to thevibrations of the electromagnet so as to provide vibration combined withheat.

This invention relates generally to vibrating devices for physical careand therapy and refers more particularly to a vibrating device capableof providing both vibration and infrared heat radiations for suchpurposes.

Combined heating and vibrating or massaging devices are known. In allsuch devices of which I am aware the heat has been supplied through anelectric resistance heating element which is separate and apart from thevibrating mechanism, although both may be contained in the same case andare controlled by separate switches so that a selection of heat plusmassage or massage alone may be had.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide acombined heating applicator and massage device in which the heat isobtained from the electric vibrating means and the necessity ofproviding a separate heating element is done away with. As a result, mydevice can be constructed of fewer parts than other devices of which Iam aware and thus made available to the public at a lower cost.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a combined heatapplicator and massage device in which the user can, despite thecontinuous heating function served by the electric vibrating means,select at will the application of heat and vibration together orvibration alone.

Other and further objects of the invention, together with the featuresof novelty appurtenant thereto will appear in the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of the specification andis to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like referencenumerals indicate like parts in the various views;

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of combined heatapplication and massage device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of same, parts being broken away forpurposes of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the lower half of the casing and the componentsmounted therein, the view being taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1of the drawing;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along line 44 of FIG. 3 inthe direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line 55 of FIG. 3, butwith the top half of the casing in place.

Referring to the drawings, in the preferred form of the invention themain body comprises a hollow housing made up of upper and lowershell-like members 10, 11 which have edges which register with oneanother on a substantially horizontal plane through the center of theunit. Both the upper and lower shells may be molded from any suit-Patented Sept. 16, 1969 "ice able plastic. The upper shell is formedwith a circular boss portion 12 providing a planar circular surface 12aon the forward top side of the unit. Immediately below this boss andspaced around the shell are openings 13 which provide ventilation to theinterior of the housing.

The lower shell 11 of the housing terminates also in a generallycircular boss 14 but in this case the lower end of the boss is open andthe opening is covered by a circumferentially flanged member 15 ofcircular configuration which has the flange 15a and the bottom planarportion 15b. For reasons later described, member 15 is made of materialhaving good heat conductivity, and preferably aluminum.

The member 15 is secured to the housing by means of screws 16 whichextend upwardly through recessed portions in the plate member 15 atopposite sides thereof through internal passages in bosses 17 formed onthe inside of the lower shell 11 and are threaded into similar bosses 18formed within the upper shell in order to secure the shells together aswell as hold the plate member 15 thereto. A similar pair of screws 19received in bosses 20 in the lower shell are threaded into bosses 22 inthe upper shell. The screws '19 and their corresponding bosses 20, 22are disposed at from the screws 16 and the heads of the screws 19 areconcealed by the plate member 15.

The housing is formed with a handle portion as can be seen in FIGS. 1and 2, and screws 23 serve in similar manner to screws 16 and 19 to jointhe handle portions of the mating shells together.

The vibratory energy for the massage function of the device is suppliedby a vibrator motor 24 which includes a U-shaped magnetically permeablespring 25. The lower leg of spring 25 is formed with a generally T-shaped head 25:: which is riveted as at 26 to a cross bar 27, also ofmagnetic material, extending diametrically across the inside of theplate member 15 and riveted to flange 151: by rivets 28 at the oppositeends of the cross bar. The upper leg of the U-shaped member overlies butis spaced well above the lower leg.

An electromagnet shown generally at 29 is mounted on the inside of upperleg 2511 by a rivet type connection 30. The electromagnet creates analternating magnetic field which cooperates with each leg and the bendtherebetween to transmit vibratory energy through the cross bar 27 tothe plate and housing.

The electromagnet 29 includes a central core 31 which has an extension31a of reduced diameter at its upper end. The end of the extension isflattened or headed to form the rivet connection 30 to the upper leg25b. For exemplary purposes, I have shown cores 31 as cylindrical;however it may have other cross sections. The core 31 is constructed ofa non-laminated magnetically permeable metal. An exciting coil 32circumscribes the core 31. The coil is wound within a plastic bobbinwhich extends to the upper end of the core. The coil is energized byalternating current supplied through electric leads 33, 34 and input iscontrolled by a switch 35 later to be described. An additional part ofthe electromagnet 29 comprises the inverted U-shaped bar member 36having the legs 36a on opposite sides of the core. This member ismounted on the reduced or necked down upper end 31a of the core and isalso held in place by the hot-heading or rivet effect which serves tosecure the core to the spring 25.

Positioned adjacent the U-shaped spring 25 and of generally similarconfiguration is a heat transfer member 36. The heat transfer member maysupplement the spring, but it also may be freely flexible. Its primaryrequirement is that it be constructed of a metal having extremely goodproperties of heat conductivity, such as aluminum. The heat transfermember 36 is riveted at its upper end to the extension line 31a of thecore by the headed connection 30 earlier described and its lower endpasses beneath and is held firmly against the inside of plate member 15by the cross strap 27.

The switch 35 earlier described is a three position switch having anoff, high and low position supplying lesser power to the vibrator thanin the high position. The switch is connected with the leads to thevibrator and to the electric cord 38 which is conventional and includesa plug for a wall jack (not shown).

In operation, when the vibrator motor 23 is energized by moving theswitch to the high or low position, it is set in motion through thecombination of alternating mag-- netic fields and the reaction thereofwith the magnetic base components of the spring 25 and strap 27. As thecore 31 is not laminated, it is not able to compensate for the eddycurrent loss accompanying the rapid flux change. The losses areconverted to heat and this heat is conducted from the core through theextension 31 to the heat transfer member 36 and thereby to the platemember 15 which also being of good conductivity, tends to distribute theheat uniformly to all parts thereof. Thus heat is generated in the platemember by the motor while the motor is vibrating.

One desiring both application of vibratory energy and heat to a portionof the body simply places the plate 15 in contact with the desired areaof the body while the unit is operating.

In the event the user desires application of vibratory energy formassage without application of heat, it is necessary only to turn theunit upside down and apply the surface 12a to the desired part of thebody rather than the plate 15.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and suba support memberhaving an applicator portion thereon constructed of a substance havinggood heat conductivity,

a U-shaped spring member mounted to said support member with one legadjacent said applicator portion, the other spaced therefrom,

an electromagnet mounted on said other leg of said spring member, saidelectromagnet including a core constructed to produce substantial heatin response to alternating current applied to said electromagnet, and

heat transfer means in heat transfer relationship between said core andsaid portion of said support member and operable to transfer heat fromsaid core to said applicator portion whereby to heat said portion whilesaid electromagnet is energized.

2. The combination as in claim 1,

said support member including a second applicator portion remote fromthe first-named applicator portion.

3. The combination as in claim 1,

said heat transfer means comprising a U-shaped member similar to saidspring having one leg connected with said core and the other contactingsaid applicator portion.

4. The combination as in claim 1,

said support member comprising a hollow housing having a handle portionand a head section,

one side of said head section being said applicator portion.

5. The combination as in claim 4,

said head section having a side opposite said applicator portion.

6. The combination as in claim 1,

said applicator portion comprising a metal plate secured to said supportmember.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,135,312 11/1938 Muckle 128-2422,582,617 1/1952 August 128-241 2,795,224 6/1957 Brandenburg 128--24.12,840,071 6/ 1958 McNair 128-41 XR 3,155,854 11/1964. Stam 128-41 XR rL. W. T RAPP, Primary Examiner US. 01. X.R.

